New housing estate plans

If you live in a rural community, as we do here in Albury, East Hertfordshire, you might be forgiven for believing that the 'protected' piece of land outside your window was going to remain green for the foreseeable future. However, as you may have guessed by now, you'd be wrong.

England's planning regulations have a yawning loophole in them, called the Rural Exceptions Scheme. It allows housing associations to build on otherwise protected green field sites, with little justification.

And they are being positively encouraged to do so by local councils, keen to meet their housing targets. What's more, public money is being provided for the purpose.

In Albury, we have lived through almost two years of hell, watching in astonishment as a housing association has worked hand-in-hand with the district council, to fabricate a 'need' for housing on the thinnest of pretexts. Positive responses to a simple 'housing needs survey', urging residents to express an interest in a property 'even if you have no intention of moving there' have been translated one-to-one to a planned property, to be built in our “Category 3” (lowest priority for development) village. The availability of the land at below-market rates has driven the process and the choice of location. The creation of 'evidence' of need (which does not stand up to the slightest scrutiny) has followed.

The problem? There are forces (government targets) which are driving behaviour for which there is no check and balance. Housing associations and local councils are free to fabricate 'need' for housing developments and then build on hitherto protected land with no independent audit of the justification of need. And they know they can get away with it because the law in this area is too weak to be effective.

This is a public scandal and a misuse of public money - and it's probably happening to small communities all over the country.

It might be happening to you right now, or may soon.

We need an independent audit body to ensure that when such a development is proposed, on an otherwise protected site, it is supported by a rigorous justification of need.

But we aren't going to get one while we act alone. If you are faced with the same issue, or are shocked at the cynical way that the regulations are being bypassed, please get in touch using the form below.

It's worth pointing out at this time that the Parish Council had offered Aldwyck Housing a patch of brown-field land beside the village hall. The money raised from the sale of this land would have been used for the benefit of the village (eg. for the construction of a new playground) Also the land is closer to local amenities such as the school, church etc. Apparently Aldwyck have chosen not to take up this option on the grounds that the land is in a flood plain. However this did not prevent the building of The Bourne or the Village Hall.

If you feel that you would like to express an opinion on the matter, you can do so by writing to East Herts Council and/or to the Parish Council at the addresses in the letter that you can download via the link above. You could also sign the online petition which you'll find at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SAFE/ . This only takes a moment and is free to do.

MP Meets Albury Campaigners

North East Herts MP Oliver Heald was able to meet residents of Albury campaigning against a proposed development in the village, which would obstruct a much-loved view across from the village to the Parish Church in Albury End.

Residents pointed out many difficulties with the site to Oliver Heald and also raised questions about other sites which might be more suitable and about the process of consultation.

Commenting, Oliver Heald said, “I was concerned by what I heard from the local residents and will be contacting East Herts District Council to see what may be done to ensure that consultation is of high quality and that all sites are fully considered.”

Please post your thoughts and comments on the Village Discussion Group (accessible to village residents via the menu on the left) If you are unable to access the Discussion Group, and you live in Albury, please email webmaster@alburyvillage.org.uk with your name and address and we will send you an invitation which will make the sign-up process easier, as soon as we can.